IELTS Listening Multiple Choice Questions: How to Conquer

A Quick Overview of IELTS Listening Multiple Choice Questions

There are a total of 11 types of questions included in the IELTS listening section, where the multiple-choice question is the most crucial one. In this task type, you will be presented with a question along with a few options where you have to select the correct answer based on audio recordings, testing skills in finding main ideas or specific details. These questions feature tricky distractors that sound similar to correct answers but aren’t. For example, the recordings will include paraphrasing, synonyms, and irrelevant details, making questions challenging but crucial for a good score.

The multiple-choice IELTS listening is crucial because they demand high focus. The test taker has to listen for keywords and eliminate incorrect options; if they fail to identify the accurate answer, they may lose points.

Types of Multiple Choice Questions in IELTS Listening with Sample Tasks

The IELTS listening question types include four different formats for the multiple-choice task. These questions focus on specific details, and typically appear in Sections 2 and 3, where conversations are more complex. Below, we have provided you with some IELTS listening multiple-choice sample questions with all four formats. After taking a look, you will have an idea of how these questions appear in the real test.

Type 1 - Single Answer-Based Questions

• What It Is: In this format, you will be presented with either three or four options like A, B, C, or D, where test takers have to pick just one correct answer.
• How It Works: This question format often asks for specific details, reasons, or facts within a monologue or dialogue.

Sample for Single Answer-Based Questions: Dashboard Study Centre

Questions 1-4: Choose the correct letter A, B, or C.

1. Membership at the study centre is 20 pounds

A. for everyone.

B. for everyone except the elderly and students.

C. for everyone each year.

2. Members can take out

A. an unlimited number of books.

B. a maximum of 3 books.

C. 3 books for 3 days.

3. Booking is unnecessary for

A. the yoga, dance, and gentle exercise classes.

B. general fitness classes.

C. The walking class.

4. Arts and crafts classes are taught by

A. volunteers

B. teachers

C. teachers and volunteers.

Answers for Single-Answer-Based Questions:

1. B

2. B

3. C

4. B

Type 2 - Multiple Answer-Based Questions (Long List Selection)

• What It Is: In this question format, you will be presented with a question statement with a list of possible answers. You have to select multiple answers (e.g., two from five options or three from seven) as specified in the instructions.
• How It Works: It tests students’ ability to track multiple pieces of information, like features of an item or services offered in a company.

Sample for Multiple-Answer-Based Questions: Health Care Conference

Questions 1-3: Who will be lecturing at the conference today?

Choose three options from the following list (A-G) as your answers.

A. Dr Christopher Lord

B. Dr David Bishop

C. Dr George Ripley

D. Dr William Benson

E. Dr Roger Dean

F. Dr Daisy Mandalay

G. Dr Ralph Morris

Answers for Multiple Answer-Based Questions:

1. E

2. A

3. B

Type 3 - Sentence Completion Multiple Choice Questions

• What It Is: In these IELTS listening multiple choice questions, you have to complete some incomplete sentences with their correct endings. For each task, you will be given either three or four options to choose from, and an accurate response based on the audio information. Sometimes, you may have to fill in missing words or numbers from the options to complete the answer.
• How It Works: This task especially focuses on understanding the flow and main points of a section, often appearing as summary points for a monologue or conversation.

Sample for Sentence Completion-Based Questions: Bayswater Transport Time Perspective

Question 1-5: Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C.

1. We are all present hedonists

A. at school

B. at birth

C. while eating and drinking

2. American boys drop out of school at a higher rate than girls because

A. They need to be in control of the way they learn

B. They play video games instead of doing schoolwork

C. They are not as intelligent as girls

3. Present-oriented children

A. do not realise that present actions can have negative future effects

B. are unable to learn lessons from past mistakes

C. know what could happen if they do something bad, but do it anyway

4. If Americans had an extra day per week, they would spend it

A. working harder

B. building relationships

C. sharing family meals

5. Understanding how people think about time can help us

A. become more virtuous

B. work together better

C. Identify careless or ambitious people

Answers for Sentence Completion-Based Questions:

1. B

2. A

3. C

4. A

5. B

Type 4 - Picture Selection Based Questions

• What It Is: The picture selection IELTS listening multiple choice questions ask you to choose the correct image (or images) from a set of options like A, B, or C. Students have to choose the right picture by carefully listening to the audio.
• How It Works: It is often used when describing locations, objects, or processes where visuals help clarify context.

Sample for Picture Selection Based Questions: Mammoths

Question 1: Which type of mammoth is going to focus on?

Choose the correct letter A-C.

Answers for Picture Selection-Based Questions:

1. B

These were the examples of sample questions for IELTS listening MCQs. If you want to practice these kinds of tasks, we advise you to experience a real exam environment by taking the IELTS listening mock test and improve your skills & confidence for better performance.

Common Problems Students Face in IELTS Listening Multiple Choice Questions

Sometimes students struggle to understand the accents or fast speech in the audio because there can be different speakers in the recording l,ike British, American, Canadian, Australian, etc. Therefore, IELTS listening MCQ practice must be good enough, and itit'setter if you know already what more problems you can face in this task. Let’s take a look below.

• Paraphrasing and Synonyms - Audio often comes with synonyms, not exact words, which can confuse students who listen for keywords rather than meaning.
• Multi-Speaker Discussions (Part 3) - Identifying specific ideas conversations with multiple speakers often offer different information w, which makes it difficult for students to assume the correct answer.
• Speed & Accents - Natural speaking speed and various English accents like British, Australian, etc., can be difficult to follow, especially with unfamiliar vocabulary or rapid speech.
• Complex Sentence Structures - Long, compound sentences in questions and audio require strong grammar skills to track key points, which students often lack.
• Focus on Feelings vs. Facts - Questions asking for emotions or attitudes, like (how does she feel?), are much harder to pinpoint than factual answers, as feelings are subtle.

How to Deal with IELTS Listening MCQs?

You can refer IELTS listening practice test and rehearse for all four MCQ formats for better performance. Apart from this, to deal with this task, herhave provided some strategies you can follow when attempting tasks.

1. Read the Question - Before the speaker starts speaking, go through the questions carefully. It is important to understand what sort of information is included in the task and what type of question it is.

2. Check the Title - Sometimes, there can be a title above the questions, helping you assume the right information. Before listening theto audio, read it carefully because it may help you as a clue to determine the links between the question and the speaker’s conversation.

3. Highlights & Underline Keywords - If the information matches the audio, highlight exact words or synonyms in the question. It will give you a direction to choose the response. Also, try to hear the keyword-related synonyms while listening.

4. Read the Options & Think for Synonyms - It is surely possible that you will not see the exact words in the question that you have listened to in the audio. Therefore, grasp the meaning because it will help you indicate the correct response to the question.

5. Don’t Fall into the Trap of Distractors - In the audio, the speaker will try to trap you with distractors to challenge your listening skills. There might be a word or phrase that converts the information's meaning and that you have to identify. In this case, don’t let your focus go down, and select the option you think is right. These IELTS listening multiple choice tips will be helpful if you follow them in a rtheght way.

Students who are aiming for a high score need strong IELTS exam preparation in the multiple-choice task type, because it is considered the most challenging one.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you are clear about the IELTS listening multiple choice questions types through this blog. Here, we have also provided you commwith on mistakes to avoid and strategies to apply when you take the actual test. Apart from all of these useful things, make sure you are good at grammar and vocabulary. In this section and other ones, like reading, writing, & speaking, both play a crucial role. You can also join IELTS online coaching, if you seek more assistance in exam preparation and incrto ease score. At Gradding, our expert tutors are always ready to guide you so that you can achieve your desired bands.

FAQs

1. How Can I Improve Accuracy in IELTS Listening Multiple Choice Questions?

To improve your IELTS listening multiple-choice accuracy, you should read questions and keywords beforehand, listen for paraphrases and tone, and use elimination and prediction strategies. Try to focus on the overall meaning and be alert for self-corrections to avoid common distractors.

2. How Is the IELTS Listening Test Scored?

The IELTS listening test is scored out of 40, with one mark for each correct answer. Further, these marks are converted to the 1-9 band scale, including half bands like 6.5 or 7.5. A higher number of correct answers leads to a higher band score, with 39-40 correct usually resulting in a band 9, and requires around 30 correct answers for band 7.

3. Are Multiple Choice Questions the Same for Academic and General IELTS?

Yes, the IELTS listening test is identical for both Academic and General Training.

4. What Skills Are Tested in IELTS Listening Multiple Choice Questions?

The IELTS listening multiple choice questions test students’ abilities to grasp main ideas, detailed information, speaker opinions, follow arguments, & how they identify paraphrased words, distractors, & understand contextual meaning in the audio. If you master these skills, no one can stop you from obtaining your desired band score on the test.

5. Can I Hear the Audio More Than Once in IELTS Listening?

No, you cannot listen to the audio more than once in the IELTS listening test. Each of the four recordings in this section will be played once, so you must carefully listen and take notes.

6. Do I Lose Points If My Answer Is Wrong?

No, you do not lose points for a wrong answer in the IELTS listening section. But you do lose points if your correct answer has any spelling or grammar mistakes, so always guess and write something, but ensure it is spelled correctly and grammatically accurate.